24 | March 15, 2018 | The Homer Horizon LIFE & ARTS homerhorizon.com Taft Foundation raises money for ‘Grease’ production Homer children part of new theater group Mary Compton Freelance Reporter Arielle Kenny and John Laflamboy hug during the fundraiser. When Taft school parent Patty Colella met Limestone Stage Director Andrea Vaughn, a friendship over children and drama was born. On March 3, a community came together at Embers Tap House to support the new theater group called Bragi’s Players. They came up with the unusual name with Taft school’s mascot being a viking, and Bragi is the Viking god of acting and poetry. “Taft School got a large amount of money into our Taft School Foundation account last year,” Colella said. “It was supposed to go to the Taft High School in Chicago. We had to give it back. The guy felt bad and came out to Taft. They gifted Taft School with ‘Grease.’ It turns out he is friends with Jim Jacobs, the guy who wrote ‘Grease.’ Jacobs based Grease off Taft High school in Chicago. That’s how we got ‘Grease.’ The school couldn’t take it on because of lack of funding.” Without funding, the show can’t go on. “Most schools don’t have a theater program,” Colella said. “I hooked up with Andrea Vaughn from Limestone Stage, she’s a director. I asked Andrea if she could help. We wound up putting together a drama club in September at Taft School. We went under the Taft Foundation. Because we’re under the Taft Foundation, we could open it up to the community. So there’s kids from Homer, Plainfield and other districts, not just Taft. [March 1] was our first day practicing, auditions were the week before and [March 3] is the fundraiser.” There are about 60 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in the program. They are slated to perform “Grease” June 7-10 at Taft School. Vaughn couldn’t be more excited to be part of Bragi’s Players. Bob Hartwell provides live music for the inaugural fundraiser for Bragi’s Players held March 3 at Embers Tap House in Lockport. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd Century Media “For Bragi’s, I want so many of the kids at Taft to come out to enjoy theater to learn,” Vaughn said. “A lot of them have never seen anything like this before. They’re starting at zero. I want to bring them to the point where they are comfortable on stage. You could tell at auditions they were so new, they were panicking. They’re already growing.” Vaughn is no stranger to theater, as she has performed in 57 plays. “I started in plays when I was 6-years-old,” Vaughn said. “When I was 6, I was an understudy for a 12-yearold. Well, she got mono, and I became the main part. “Some of the characters I’ve played were the Cowardly Lion in ‘Wizard of Oz,’ The Giant in ‘Princess Bride,’ July in ‘Annie the Musical’ and much more. When I was in high school, I started a teen improv group through the Tinley Park Public Library.” In one production, even family members didn’t recognize her. “In one play, I heard my mom say, ‘Hey who’s that boy, he’s pretty good.’ And then I heard my grandma say, ‘It’s Andrea.’“ Vaughn laughs. “I could hear them. I knew I was a good actor then, because my own mom didn’t even know who I was.” Several members of Limestone Stage were on hand at the fundraiser. The supporters enjoyed live music, along with a performance by Limestone Stage’s improv group Quarried Away. Vaughn spoke about the continued need for theater for children. “At the end of the day, storytelling is important,” Vaughn said. “Theater brings people together we need that more than anything now. I loved my first show with Limestone. It was the first time I was back on stage after a long hiatus. In college, I was on crew, then got married, so it was a while since I had been on stage... This community opened its arms to me because I had just moved to Lockport. Tonight, they have opened their arms for Bragi’s Players.” Judy Chesser, a parent from Lockport, has two daughters who will be performing. “This group is a great opportunity for the kids at Taft School,” Chesser said. “There has been only one get-to-know-you session and a read-through and have seen their excitement. One daughter has one line; she has never done theater before. When she came back from school, she said it was the best day of her life. “I’m so happy Patty Collella began this program. It’s going to be a great experience for these kids.” For more information on Bragi’s Players, visit Bragi’s Players, Taft Foundation on Facebook. OMGCCC From Page 23 grades one to eight is still held Wednesday evenings at Homer Jr. High, which they rent the space for on a weekly basis, not having enough room at the church to accommodate all the students. That is an area Broudou hopes will change in the future, envisioning with the help of the community a parish center to be constructed adjacent to the current structure with a connection between the buildings. That way, those in religious education and those coming for the increased programs or any other reason will have more space to share and to celebrate fellowship while building their own faith. “People need to be formed and need to have a space for them to be formed, so they go out and form other people,” Broudou said. “People say, ‘How do I go out and form other people if I’m not formed?’ To be formed, you need a space to be formed.” That formation comes through the different things the church has available for those looking to try something new. Those who gather there are confident the parish center and extra room will materialize in time. For now, fresh leaders will continue to emerge in different aspects of parish life, and ideas will come from all and be passed on and down. “That’s what it’s about,” Broudou summarized. “We just need to bring different aspects of the life of Christ. We are called to bring about unity, the family mentality, to other people.” For more information on Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish and what it offers, visit www.omgccc.org or call (708) 301-6246.
homerhorizon.com LIFE & ARTS the Homer Horizon | March 15, 2018 | 25 Showing their heart Butler School students participate in Jump Rope for Heart Everly Kubis, a second-grader at Butler, scales the rock wall during the event. Second-grader Abigal Laird takes part in the Butler School Jump Rope for Heart Health event Feb. 23 at the school’s gymnasium. Photos by Bob Klein/22nd Century Media Butler School second-graders Ashley Panico (left) and Keira Nenconi jump rope for the fundraiser. Second-graders Violet Slowik (left) and Samantha Mandos get into the spirit of the event. Isabella Sokolowski (left) and Emma McIntyre (right) hold the rope as Shelby Cravens leaps over it.
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